Boot or shoe



(No Model.)

' J- W. BOWEN,

BOOT 0R SHOE.

PatentedApr. 14, 1896.

UNITED STAT-Es PATENT OFFICE.

.IOSEPH IV. BOWEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOOT OR SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,345, dated April14, 1896.

Application iiled May 9, 1895. Serial No. 548,664. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom/ t may concern.

Be it known that I, JOSEPH W. BOWEN, a citizen of the United States,residingin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Boots or Shoes, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates tothat class of boots and shoes which have acushion-plate in the heel, the object of my invention being to soconstruct such a cushion-plate and the heel portion of the shoe forreceiving the same that the shoe will not be weakened at the heel, theheel-plate willbe prevented from slipping out of place, and the elasticprojections with which the cushion-plate is provided will not 1Illiaveto withstand the entire pressure of the ieel.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view, partly in section, ofa shoe provided with a cushioned heel-plate in' accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view showing the recess formed inthe insole, at the heel portion of the same, for the reception of theprojecting portion of the cushionplate; and Fig. 3 is an invertedperspective view of the cushion-plate detached from the shoe.

In Fig. l, A representsthe insole of a boot or shoe, in which, at theheel, is formed a depression a of the same contour as the heel portionof the shoe, but of `less dimensions than the latter, so as to formaround said depression a rim or flange 0'/ in the same plane as the topof the remaining portion of the insole. 1

The cushion-plate B has on the under side a group of projections b, thisgroup of projeetions being such that it will fit within the recess aformed in the lower portion of the insole and being less in dimensionsthan the plate B, so that the latter has around the group of projectionsa projecting` iiange b. Hence when the group of projections enters therecess a the ange b will rest upon the rim a. surrounding said recess,and the bearing of the heel will not come wholly upon the group ofprojections, but will be borne partially by the rim a', so that theprojections are relieved from excessive pressure. Surrounding the recessa is a comparatively abrupt shoulder, which servesto retain the projections b in proper position and prevent the heel-plate from slippingout of place in the heel of the shoe.

sired, also the plate B as well, are composed The projections, and, ifdev of rubber, felt, or other elastic material, so that as the heelalternately presses upon the plate B and is lifted therefrom in walkingthere will be a slight depression of the plate into and a following riseof said plate from the recess a, the elastic support of the heelpreventing the usual shock or jar upon the same and thus very materiallylessening the fatigue of walking, while the movement of the plate B intoand out of the recess a causes an alternate forcing of air from anddrawing of air into said recess, so as to provide for the ventilation ofthe body of the shoe, thereby preventing the feet from becoming moistand at the same time keeping the feet warm.

To further facilitate the ventilation of the shoe, the plate B isprovided at points between the projections b with perforations d, so asto provide for a iiow vertically into or from the recess aas well aslaterally under the iiange b' of the elastic heel-plate.

It will be noticed that the depression or recess a in the heel of theshoe is formed by pressing down the inner and outer soles withoutcutting away any part of the same. Hence the shoe is not weakened as inprior cases with which I am familiar, in which, in order to form arecess with surrounding shoulder for confining the elastic projectingportion of the heel-plate, the sole, and in some cases part of the heelalso, has been cut away.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent-Y The combination of an internal heel-plate having agroup of elastic projections extending downwardly therefrom, and aprojecting flange extending outwardly beyond said group of projections,with a shoe having in the heel portion a depression or recess pressedinto the insole without cutting away the same, said recess being boundedby a retainingshoulder for conining the projections of the heel-plate,and surrounded by a broad raised supporting-rim upon which theprojecting fiange of the heel-plate is seated, substantially asspeciiied.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH W. BOWEN.

Witnesses:

WILL. A. BAER, Jos. H. KLEIN.

IOO

